Philippines closes in on Top 10 in Olympiad

THE Philippines climbed to 11th place in the 2012 World Chess Olympiad after a 3-1 fifth-round win over Iceland in Istanbul, Turkey.

Grandmaster Oliver Barbosa defeated GM Henrik Danielsen on board two while GM Mark Paragua downed International Master Dagur Arngrimsson on Board Four to lead the Filipinos to the win.

GMs Wesley So and Eugene Torre drew their matches with GMs Hannes Stefansson and Throstur Thorhallson, respectively, to seal the victory.

Third seed Armenia, which defeated the Philippines in the fourth round, is now on top of the standings after a 2.5-1.5 win over second seed Ukraine. Top seed Russia climbed to second place after a 2.5-1.5 win over No. 4 Hungary.

In the women’s division, the Philippines climbed to 15th with a 3-1 win over South Africa.